MATCH STATS QOS 2
ALLOA ATHLETIC 0
STAR MAN: This was WILLIE GIBSON’S best showing this season. His delivery for the opener was a key moment.
Buchanan (38), Mckee (47)
Queen of the South manager Allan Johnston hailed his side after they secured their first Championship victory of 2020.
The Doonhamers last tasted league success in December 2019 against Ayr United and Johnston hopes their 2-0 win over Alloa can kick-start Queens’ season.
He said: “It was brilliant to get the win and it was a great performance. Hopefully now we can build up some momentum and make our way up the league.
“I don’t think there’s much to fear in this league. We’ve got good players and after a poor start we’re more confident and going into games expecting to win them.”
“We’ve played against Alloa the last couple of years and struggled. They have been our bogey side and to get our first league victory of the year against them is massive.”
After an even start at Palmerston Queens had the first chance when attacker Aidan Fitzpatrick had his close range effort blocked by Liam Dick.
The hosts continued to pressure and were inches away from taking the lead when Robert Thomson cleared a Ayo Obileye header off the line on 27 minutes.
However, the Dumfries outfit weren’t to be denied minutes later when a brilliant Willie Gibson delivery from the right was nodded home by the towering Gregor Buchanan.
Queens doubled their advantage 63 seconds after the restart when Joe Mckee hit a stunning 25-yard freekick leaving Neil Parry no chance.
Forward Stephen Dobbie nearly made it three for the Doonhamers four minutes later but Parry palmed away his 20-yard curling strike.
The visitors were close to halving the deficit but a Dick effort from 12 yards was blocked by Obileye on 78 minutes.
Queens should’ve sealed it at the end but both Dobbie and Maxwell fired wide.
A disappointed Alloa boss Peter Grant said: “I thought Queens started better than us and overall deserved the points. We never got going and didn’t do enough. We huffed and puffed but we never worked their goalkeeper.
“It wasn’t a good day at the office for us. It’s not very often I can say that about this group of players.”